Glass rolling train



"Aug. 18, 1931. Y. BRANCART GLAS S ROLLING TRAIN Filed Feb. 14, 1950 Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES YVON BRANCART, OF VERREBIES DE F A UQUEZLRQNQUIERES, BELGIUM I GLASS ROLLING TRAIN Application filed February 14, 1930, Serial No. 428,395, and in Belgium February 14, 1929.

Glass rolling trains usually include two pairs of rolls mounted in a stationary frame above a movable table on which the glass, stretched and rolled out by the rolls to the shape of a plate, is received as it leaves the train. In most rolling trains of this kind, the rolls of the lower pair are ofiset relatively to those of the upper pair, in order that the glass follows a slope of about 45 to pass from one pair of rolls to the next.

This arrangement of the rolls is quite suitable for the rolling of thin plates or of relatively cold glass, but-when thick plates or hotter and consequently more fluid glass is being rolled, it happens that the end of the plate rolled by the upper rolls, instead of stretching out between these and the lower rolls, sags on the latter owing to its weak consistence and to the accentuated slope it has to follow.

In such case the benefit of the first rolling and stretching is lost, and the glass plates obtained are defective.

The present invention permits of remedying to this state of things in a simple and efiicacious manner. It consists in mounting the rolls and their driving, adjusting and cooling means on a frame which may be more or less inclined so as to vary, according to requirements, the slope of the path of the glass between the upper and the lower pair of rolls.

In order that such adjustable frame may be easily operated, it is preferably supported by a curved surface on a stationary base with or without interposed castors or rollers. In this way, by merely rocking the frame, the slope of the train may be adapted to 40 suit the requirements of the particular work to be done, and plates of considerably different thickness or more or less fluid glass may be rolled out by means of the same apparatus, without requiring any modification thereof, and the defects caused by the sagging of the glass on the lower rolls are avoided.

The accompanying drawings illustrates diagrammatically, by way of example, a glass rolling train according to this invention:

Fig. 1 shows the train in a raised position suitable for the rolling of thin plates or of slightly fluid glass, and

Fig. 2- shows it in a slightly inclined position, suitable for the rolling of thick plates and very fluid glass.

The inclinable frame comprises two or more side plates 1, which support above the casting table 2 the upper rolls 3 and lower rolls 4 as well as the motors, driving and adjusting means and usual cooling devices of such rolls. Each side plate is supported by means of a curved shoe 5 on a base 6, so as to be adapted to rock by sliding on the latter. This rocking may be effected by hand or by suitable actuating means, such as gearings, racks, worms, etc.

Instead of resting directly on the base 6, the sole 5 may be provided with castors, or else rollers or balls may be interposed between the contact surfaces to obtain an easier rocking. The sole 5 may also be supported on castors or rollers, replacing the base 6.

The train may include a roll 7 intended to return to the upper rolls 3 any excess glass poured between them and also the usual guides 8 and 9. However the invention is not limited to any particular type of train.

I claim:

1. In a rolling train for the manufacture of glass plates and sheets, a pair of cooperating rolls, a second pair of cooperating rolls below the first pair, a guide plate leading from said first pair of rolls to said second pair of rolls, a rocking frame supporting said rolls and said guide plate, and a support for said rocking frame.

2. In a rolling train for the manufacture of glass plates and sheets, a pair of cooperating rolls, a second pair of cooperating rolls below the first pair, a frame supporting said 5 rolls, said frame having an arc-shaped bottom surface, and a base for said frame having a correspondingly arc-shaped supporting surface.

3. In a rolling train for the manufacture of glass plates and sheets, a rocking frame comprising a pair of side members and a pair of arc-shaped shoes supporting said side members, tWo pairs of rolls journalled in said side members, and an arc-shaped base supporting said shoes. 7

YVON BRANCART. 

